GRACE FOR THE NEW YEAR
Quote for Today
- Timothy Keller
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WORD FROM THE HOLY BIBLE FOR TODAY
1 Corinthians 15:10
“By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
REFLECTION
REBUILDING SOME BASICS OF BETHLEHEM: THE PURIFYING POWER OF LIVING BY FAITH IN FUTURE GRACE
“Grace is not only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us.
God’s grace was God’s acting in Paul to make Paul work hard: “By the grace of God . . . I worked harder than any of them.” So when Paul says, “Work out your own salvation,” he adds, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13). Grace is power from God to do good things in us and for us.
This grace is past and it is future. It is ever-cascading over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present, from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future, into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past.
In the next five minutes, you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes’ worth of grace in the reservoir of the past. The proper response to the grace you experienced in the past is thankfulness, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith. We are thankful for the past grace of the last year, and we are confident in the future grace for the new year.”
- By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation.
GRACE FOR THE NEW YEAR
REBUILDING SOME BASICS OF BETHLEHEM: THE PURIFYING POWER OF LIVING BY FAITH IN FUTURE GRACE
As followers of Jesus Christ, here are five key points to consider about God's grace based on 1 Corinthians 15:10: 1. God’s Grace Defines Our Identity – Paul acknowledges, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Our identity is not based on our achievements, failures, or personal strength but on God's unmerited favour. We are who we are because of His grace working in us. 2. God’s Grace is Not in Vain – Paul emphasizes that God’s grace in his life was not wasted. As believers, we should respond to God’s grace by living in obedience, bearing fruit, and making a difference in the world for His glory. 3. Grace and Hard Work Go Together – Paul says, “I worked harder than any of them.” Grace is not a license to be lazy or passive; rather, it should empower us to labor diligently for God’s kingdom, relying on His strength. 4. Grace is God Working Through Us – Even though Paul worked hard, he acknowledges, “It was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Everything good we accomplish is ultimately because of God’s power at work in us, not just our human effort. 5. Grace is a Continuous Gift – God’s grace is not just for salvation but for daily living. We need His grace every moment—to strengthen us, guide us, and sustain us as we follow Christ.
Neven MacEwan
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace that saves, sustains, and strengthens me each day. I acknowledge that I am who I am only because of Your love and mercy. Help me never to take Your grace for granted but to walk in obedience, honouring You in all that I do. Lord, guide my heart to remain humble and dependent on You. Fill me with the desire to serve You wholeheartedly, not out of obligation but out of gratitude for the grace You have so freely given. When I feel weak, remind me that Your grace is sufficient, and Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Help me to labour for Your kingdom with diligence, knowing that it is not by my strength but by Your grace working in and through me. Teach me to extend the same grace to others that You have shown to me, walking in love, patience, and kindness. Father, may my life be a reflection of Your goodness. Let Your grace not be in vain in my life but bear fruit that glorifies You. Keep me steadfast, faithful, and obedient, knowing that every step I take is sustained by Your unfailing grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Neven MacEwan
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